Parents & Visitors
Sample Schedule
Weekday Program
Saturday Program
Parents
and students attend separate programs throughout
both Orientation days.
Please note: The Saturday, July 12 program is for Parents only. Students will attend Orientation on their designated date.
Weekday Program
Day 1
Check-In
Orientation begins at the check-in site located
on the ground floor of Coffman Memorial Union
on the East Bank of the Twin Cities campus.
Check-in is anytime between 8:30-10:15 a.m.
Optional morning activities
After checking in, you may attend optional morning activities
described below with your student. Please note departure times for tours
as they are only offered once during the Orientation
day. If you decide not to attend any of these activities, be sure to check in for Orientation by 10:15 a.m.
• Computer Resources and Account Activation and Initiation
• Go Global
Find out more about computer resources available to your student. Topics include where to go for technology help; University email; computer and software discounts; how to prepare a computer for the residence hall network; legal music downloads; and account activation.
8:50-9:20 a.m.
Explore students' options for global experiences. Discover how they can get credit in their major or minor, and learn about resources that can help them plan to go abroad.• Campus Tour
Weather permitting. Depart at 9:10 a.m. Return at 10:10 a.m.
Explore the East Bank and learn more about the buildings your student will frequent this year. While touring, see where your student can study, relax, and eat.• Financial Aid
Financial aid counselors will be available to answer questions about the financial aid process between 8:30-10:15 a.m. Financial aid counselors will also be on hand to answer questions during the Parent Orientation lunch in the Great Hall from 12:20-1:15pm.• Resource Fair
9:00-10:15 a.m.
Start your day by exploring campus resources available to your student. Learn about on-campus jobs, housing, dining, parking and transportation, and more.• How To Pay Your Bill
Get all your questions answered on when, where, and how to pay your tuition
and fee bill. We'll go over billing statements, credit balance checks versus
the direct deposit option, the installment payment plan, and UM Pay - the
University's electronic billing & payment service. Note: some information
will be repeated during the One Stop parent session.
Orientation begins: A U of M Welcome
Orientation officially kicks off at 10:30 a.m.
with the University Welcome planned for new
students and their parents/guardians.
Information sessions
• One Stop Services 11:05 a.m.-11:40 a.m.
Learn more about financial aid, student employment, student account payment information, and residency and reciprocity.• Health and Safety 11:50 a.m.- 12:20 p.m.
Boynton Health Service and the University Police will discuss the health and safety of your student while here on campus.
Lunch (12:20-1:15 p.m.)
Join other parents and talk with student
orientation leaders about their college experiences
while enjoying lunch. Lunch is provided with
Parent Orientation registration.
College meeting (1:30-2:20 p.m.)
Meet with representatives from your student’s
college of enrollment and learn more about advising,
your student's academic program, and the classroom
experience.
Breakout Sessions (2:45-3:30 p.m.) Choose one of the following sessions:
• Living On Campus
Learn about campus housing, including available amenities, food service options, and opportunities for campus involvement and employment.• The Commuting Life
This session will address issues unique to students who live off campus. We will talk about University services available and what parents can do to help.
Coaching Your Student (3:50-4:45 p.m.)
View a portion of a dramatization of issues
facing today’s college students. The director
of the Parent Program Office and student leaders
will address areas of transition for your student
and how you can continue to support your student
as he or she begins to experience life on campus.
The U Card: Your Student's Key to Campus
(4:50-5:15 p.m.)
Meet briefly with your student and hear more
about your student's official U of M photo ID.
With this card, students can check out library
materials, stay fit, enter the residence hall
and eat meals. With Gopher Gold, the U Card's
checking account and long distance service,
your student can better manager their finances
while in school.
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Evening Program (5:30-8:30 p.m.)
While your student is busy with Orientation activities, spend your evening learning more about the Twin Cities. Enjoy a casual dinner overlooking Minneapolis, then head out with other parents on a two-hour trolley ride. Highlights of the tour include the century-old milling district, Walker Sculpture Garden, and the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. The cost for the evening program is $25 per person. Advanced registration is required.
Saturday, July 12 Program
Sample Schedule
Check-In
Orientation begins at the check-in site located on the ground floor of Coffman Memorial Union on the East Bank of the Twin Cities campus. Check-in is anytime between 8:45-10:15am.
Optional Morning Activities
After checking in, you may attend optional morning activities described below with your student. Please note departure times for tours as they are only offered once during the Orientation day. If you decide not to attend any of these activities, be sure to check in for Orientation by 10:15 a.m.
- Resource Fair
9:00-10:25am
Representatives from a variety of University departments will be available to share information and answer your questions.
- Financial Aid
9:00-10:25am
Learn about how financial aid works at the U of M. Topics include applying for aid, enrollment requirements, disbursement, and direct deposit. Financial aid counselors will be available to answer your questions.
Note: Parents and guardians cannot access a student’s financial aid record without the student present or the student’s written permission.
- Go Global
9:05-9:25am
Explore students’ options for global experiences! Whether they want to study, work, intern, or volunteer abroad, a variety pf programs can fit their goals. Discover how they can get credit in their major or minor, and learn about resources that can help them plan to go abroad. Attend this session and begin the journey.
- East Bank Campus Tour
9:15-10:15am
- Computer Resource and Account Activation and Initiation
9:30-9:50am
Find out more about computer resources available to your student. Topics include where to go for technology help; University email; computer and software discounts; how to prepare a computer for the residence hall network; legal music downloads; and account activation.
- The Greek Community: Fraternities and Sororities on Campus
9:30-9:50am
Learn about fraternities and sororities on campus. What are they really like? How much do they cost? When is a good time to pledge? Representatives of the Greek community will make a short presentation and answer any questions you may have.
- How to Pay Your Bill
10:00-10:20am
Get all your questions answered on when, where, and how to pay tuition and fee bills. We’ll go over billing statements, credit balance checks versus direct deposit option, the installment payment plan, and UM Pay- the University’s electronic billing and payment service.
Note: Some information will be repeated during the One Stop parent session.
University Welcome
10:30-10:45am
University Welcome is designed for parents of our new students. This is a time for you to begin to learn about U of M resources and the Twin Cities campus student experience.
Overview of Parent Orientation
10:45-10:55am
The parent orientation staff will introduce themselves and talk about today’s schedule.
One Stop Student Services
10:55-11:30am
Learn more about the U of M on the web. Topics include financial aid, student employment, student account payment information, and residency and reciprocity.
Health & Safety
11:35am-12:05pm
Boynton Health Service and the University Police will briefly discuss the health and safety of your student while he or she is here on campus.
Lunch
12:10-1:05pm
College Meetings
1:15-2:05pm
You will meet with representatives from your student’s college of enrollment and learn more about academic life on campus. Topics include advising, support services, and collegiate expectations.
| Carlson School of Management | College of Biological Sciences |
| College of Design | College of Education and Human Development |
| College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences | College of Liberal Arts |
| Institute of Technology |
Break
2:15-2:35pm
Breakout Sessions
2:35-3:15pm
| Living on Campus | The Commuting Life |
U Card
3:20-3:40pm
Hear more about your student’s official U of M photo ID. With this card, your student can check out library materials, stay fit, enter his or her residence hall, and eat meals. With Gopher Gold, the U Card’s checking account and long distance service, your student can better manage his or her finances while at school.
Coaching Your Student
3:40-4:10pm
Learn more about areas of transition for your student and how you can continue to support your student as he or she begins to experience life on campus. The parent orientation coordinators, Chelsea and Seth, will discuss their own experiences and address remaining questions.